Not Just for Humans

Aug 28, 2017 09:37AM
● By Louisa Asseo

Enriching Activities Aren’t Just for
Humans

It’s back to school time for our kids,
but what about our companion animals? Shouldn’t they be learning too? Providing
learning opportunities for pets and captive animals in zoos and educational
programs is called “enrichment.” The benefit of behavioral enrichment is improvement of the overall
physical and emotional welfare of animals in our care. The goal is to design
games and tools for pets that enhance the normal behaviors of the species. Enrichment
lowers stress, minimizes destructive or unwanted behaviors, and lowers anxiety-driven
behaviors. In addition, it helps strengthen the bond you share with your pet
through closer interactions and fun activities you can share.

There are simple ways to enrich the
lives of our dogs and cats. Simple daily acts like taking your dog on a walk are
one way, but go a step further and offer toys that make your dog think and
solve puzzles. Agility training, traveling, hiking, sports, and interactive
play with other dogs (for dogs that enjoy this) are some other well-known ways we
can add fun and learning to their daily routines. Cats like interactive toys that
encourage normal hunting instincts. Climbing structures, high shelving, and scratching
trees can help satisfy normal cat behaviors as well. Providing treat dispensing
toys and teaching your cat “tricks” can also encourage a cat to “hunt” in order
to be rewarded with a treat.

When we share our lives with other fun
species such as rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, birds, reptiles, and even fish, enrichment
sometimes takes a little creativity. Foraging is a great and simple way to help
add enrichment. Foraging is a term used
to describe the normal behavior of an animal in search of food, shelter, mates,
and other necessities. Instead of
offering healthy foods in a bowl only, try offering food in new ways. Adding
toys that encourage them to open a box, solve a puzzle, or root under objects
to find a morsel of food is both fun and healthy for all exotic species. This also encourages more activity and can
promote healthy weight.

Each exotic species has its own set of
natural behaviors, so enrichment can be offered in different ways. For example,
providing nesting material and blank substrates allows your pet to “make his
bed.” Other ideas include playing toys with them, teaching fetch and other
interactive games, and allowing safe and supervised time out of their
enclosures.

Our pets add so much enjoyment to our
lives; by adding some enrichment activities to theirs, we are truly helping
them to live happier and healthier lives.